By Marcus Rayner | The Home News Tribune / Courier – News
What happens when school districts can’t enforce the new Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act?
The bill, A-3466/S-2392, which requires school districts to enact a series of mandates to address bullying in New Jersey’s schools, is a step toward preventing the harassment students inflict upon one another.
But the problem is that these regulations are being handed down to school districts by the state at a time when resources are scarce. What happens when a district has to choose between funding extracurricular programs and appointing an anti-bullying coordinator, anti-bullying specialist, or establishing a school safety team?
The bill specifically states that employees and administrators aren’t disciplined through loss of state aid or termination. Instead, the only recourse a victim’s family has is in court. And that ends up costing all students, as well as taxpayers.
Instead of taking the district to civil court, responsibility should be placed where it belongs – on the backs of bullies, not taxpayers.
